A scale-free network model for HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in China

Objective: The study aimed to analyze sexual networks and sex role preference as factors of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Methods: We have developed a new scale‐free network model with a sex role preference framework to study HIV transmission among MSM. We have studied the influence of different sexual networks and the effect of different proportion of sex role preference upon HIV transmission. The results are that the average ones drawn from the scenarios have been simulated for more than 30 times. Results: Compared with the traditional mathematical model, the sexual networks provide a different prediction of the HIV transmission in the next 30 years. Without any intervention, the proportion of HIV carriers will descend after some time. Conclusions: There is significant associations among network characteristics, sex role preference, and HIV infection. Although network‐based intervention is efficient in reducing HIV transmission among MSM, there are only few studies of the characteristics of sexual network, and such gaps deserve more attention and exploration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.